To observe the clinical effect of pricking and cupping therapy in the treatment of chloasma of liver depression and qi stagnation type. Methods A total of 100 patients with chloasma who were treated in Daye People 's Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023 were selected as the research objects. They were divided into control group and observation group by random grouping method, with 50 patients in each group. The control group was treated with traditional Chinese medicine, the observation group was treated with pricking and cupping therapy on the basis of the control group. The clinical effects, emotional state and TCM symptom scores of the two groups were compared. Results The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was 96.00%, which was higher than 82.00% in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the SAS and SDS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and those in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the scores of facial macular, sore knees, irritability and chest pain in the two groups were lower than those before treatment, and those in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion The clinical effect of pricking and cupping therapy in the treatment of chloasma of liver depression and qi stagnation type is positive, which can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of patients and reduce their bad mood.